Affidavit: Former Fort Smith Officer Met Teen At Church

Affidavit: Former Fort Smith Officer Met Teen At Church

A former Fort Smith police officer met the minor female he’s accused of sexually assaulting while serving as a church camp counselor, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Billy W. Rowe Jr., 31, of Bonanza resigned from the department shortly before he was arrested Tuesday afternoon on five counts of first-degree sexual assault. Attorney Jered Medlock entered a not-guilty plea on Rowe’s behalf at about 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, not long before Rowe was scheduled for arraignment.

Rowe was charged under a section of the sexual assault statute that makes it unlawful to engage in “sexual intercourse or deviate sexual activity with a minor who is not the actor’s spouse and the actor is: a mandated reporter under 12-18-402(b) and was in a position of trust or authority over the victim and used that position of trust or authority to engage in sexual intercourse of deviate sexual activity.”

In one count, Rowe is accused of engaging in sexual activity with the girl in July while he was on duty.

“On that date, he arranged for the victim to accompany him during his patrol shift in the department’s ride-along program. During that shift, Rowe performed oral sex on the victim while on duty …,” according to an affidavit.

An investigation was initiated against the eight-year FSPD veteran based on an anonymous call to the police department Sept. 10. Rowe was placed on paid administrative leave the following day, according to a news release.

Fort Smith police and the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

First-degree sexual assault is a Class A felony punishable by six to 30 years in prison.